London - Hospitality

ALMR slams ‘irony’ of DCLG tax cut as rates soar for nearby pubs

17-Mar-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Industry body the ALMR has criticised the Government office that oversees business rates for accepting a tax cut for its site in central London while ramping up business rates for the pubs closest to it.

Regional focus on... The Home Counties

13-Mar-2017 By Liam Coleman

The Home Counties offer a similar appeal to operators as London, but also offer something that little bit different to the capital. Here's a selection of the best pubs available in the area.

Illegal football: ten pubs slapped with huge fines in major clampdown

17-Feb-2017 By Liam Coleman

Licensees from across the UK have been issued with fines totalling £92,700 following a significant attempt from the Premier League to stamp out illegal football in pubs.

Stonegate acquires trio of London pubs

03-Feb-2017 By Liam Coleman

Stonegate has increased its portfolio to 693 sites after exchanging contracts to take on three London venues from Faucet Inn.

Marston's to open first London site in 10 years

25-Jan-2017 By Liam Coleman

Marston's has followed up its positive financial results by revealing that the company plans to open a new site in London for the first time in 10 years.

Meet the Publican Awards nominees: Best New Pub/Bar, sponsored by Heineken

16-Jan-2017 By Liam Coleman

Six varied and impressive new sites from a selection of innovative operators are in the running to be named as Best New Pub/Bar, sponsored by Heineken at the upcoming Publican Awards.

NEW OPENING

Michelin star-winning chef Atul Kochhar to open restaurant at Buckinghamshire inn

09-Jan-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

High-end Indian chef Atul Kochhar has announced the opening of his first British eatery at a Buckinghamshire inn.

Rental survey

Free-of-tie rents in London increase 21% over five years

05-Dec-2016 By Liam Coleman

Fleurets annual rental survey has shown a 21% increase in rents for free-of-tie leases in London, with the average free-of-tie rent in the capital now costing £107,674.

Property

Redcomb adds Potters Bar pub to fast-growing estate

24-Nov-2016 By James Evison

Multi-site operator Redcomb Pubs has added a further site to its fast-growing portfolio of outlets having only acquired its previous site in October.

Business rates

Licensees hit back at business rates revaluation

01-Nov-2016 By Helen Gilbert

London pubs will be among the hardest hit when the business rates revaluation comes into force next April, new research has revealed.

Beer

Meantime opens 'smallest pub'

19-Oct-2016 By James Evison

A pub smaller than snooker table with room for just two people has been unveiled by Asahi Europe brand Meantime Brewery.

Chef

Ex-Truscott Arms chef to lead kitchen residency at new London pub

27-Sep-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

The chef who ran the kitchen at now-closed London gastropub the Truscott Arms has announced his return to the pub trade.

Future Trends: Spirits

Alcohol-free ‘spirit’ Seedlip set for US expansion

20-Sep-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Ben Branson, founder of the UK’s first alcohol-free ‘spirit’ Seedlip, has revealed his plans to expand into the US, after the brand’s successful UK launch just 10 months ago.

Great British Pub Awards

Pub Awards: Best Spirits finalist - The Trading House, City of London

16-Sep-2016 By MA

Making waves in the City is tough, since there’s so much competition.

MA Property

Pub properties on the market - September 2016

13-Sep-2016 By Liam Coleman

Our monthly round up of the best pubs to come on the market features a harbourside pub and a 16th century cathedral city inn.

London

ALMR "disappointed" at closure of Fabric

07-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has said it is “disappointed” with Islington Council’s decision to close London’s Fabric nightclub.

London

London nightclub Fabric to shut for good after drug deaths

07-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Islington Borough Council has revoked Fabric’s licence for good after it was suspended last month (August).

London

Petition to reopen iconic London nightclub Fabric signed by 95,000

30-Aug-2016 By Nicole Sutton

A petition to save iconic London nightclub Fabric, which was closed recently, has received more than 95,000 signatures.

London

Club closed following teen drug deaths

16-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

A London nightclub has closed for the foreseeable future after two 18-year-old men died in the past nine weeks following drug overdoses.

New ETM gastropub to feature sports lounge and hairdressers

15-Aug-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

London-based gastropub group ETM has announced the opening of a new pub featuring a restaurant, sports lounge and barbers.

Property

Victorian Society ‘drink in’ to save pub

15-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

The Victorian Society is planning to host a ‘drink in’ to help save the Still & Star pub in Aldgate, east London, from demolition.

planning

Carlton Tavern must be rebuilt, says planning inspectorate

08-Jul-2016 By James Evison

Westminster City Council has won its battle to have the Carlton Tavern ‘rebuilt brick by brick’, after the popular pub was knocked down by developers.

Fuller’s takes over popular Docklands gastropub from ETM

07-Jul-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

London-based pub company Fuller’s has bought Docklands gastropub the Gun from ETM Group.

Property

Pub properties: done deals

30-Jun-2016 By Liam Coleman

This month's property done deals includes pubs in London, Leicestershire and North Yorkshire.

Cocktail Masterclass

How to make a Negroni

02-Jun-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

The Negroni is a simple cocktail to make, as it consists of just three ingredients used in equal measures and doesn't require shaking or even stirring (although there is some debate about that). Bar staff at the gin and rum bar the Merchant House...

Young’s opens first stand-alone Burger Shack

23-May-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

London-based pub group Young's has opened the doors to its first stand-alone Burger Shack venue.

Woman chokes to death on lobster in Herefordshire pub

17-May-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

A woman choked to death eating lobster in a pub, an inquest has heard.

EU Referendum

Clive Watson on Brexit: "The trade would suffer"

09-May-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

A pub entrepreneur believes we should remain in the EU as the hospitality sector will suffer.

Cocktail masterclass

How to make the perfect White Lady

03-May-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Gin is increasingly in demand from customers, who are seeking new ways to drink it. Nicholas Robinson caught up with City of London Distillery operations manager Luke Shackleton to find out how to make the White Lady.

Record year for Craft Beer Co

21-Apr-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Six-strong bar group the Craft Beer Co has reported a record year, with turnover up 16.8%.

Pub history

21 need to know things about pub signs

25-Feb-2016 By BT Sport

The Romans might have given us sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health (thank you, Monty Python) - but arguably their greatest gift to our fair and pleasant land was the humble pub...

New opening

Fuller’s opens newly built pub on the Thames

17-Feb-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Fuller’s has opened its latest new-build pub on the River Thames, the Sail Loft on Greenwich Reach, with room for 300 customers and a nautical-themed menu designed by ex-Duck & Waffle chef Jacek Zywa.

RICS Pub Benchmarking survey

RICS: Average new lease rent up 3% year-on-year

16-Feb-2016 By Oli Gross

The average rent on a new lease was £29,253 in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2015, up by more than 3% year-on-year, according to the latest figures from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors’ Pub Benchmarking Survey.

Legal advice

Know the details of your new pub before purchasing

12-Feb-2016 By Poppleston Allen

It is surprising how many operators still find themselves in difficulties when negotiating the acquisition of new premises to trade as a licensed venue.

Analysis

So you want to run a pub in London? Pub property in the capital explained

09-Feb-2016 By Ben Winstanley

London remains the epicentre of the UK hospitality industry but with its constantly evolving property landscape, staying up to date on the current hot spots and considerations is vital before making your move. Ben Winstanley takes a closer look

Investigation launched after horrified diner finds shard of glass in chicken burger

03-Feb-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

An investigation has been launched after a diner at a London pub discovered a ‘giant’ shard of glass inside a chicken burger.

Licensing

Camden introduces Late Night Levy

09-Dec-2015 By James Evison

Camden Council has voted to introduce a Late Night Levy (LNL) from 25 April 2016.

ALMR conference

How to gain investor interest in your business

27-Nov-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

The ALMR conference drew wise words from sector dignitaries — with advice to those seeking investment in the future. Nicholas Robinson reports

Top 10 London food pubs: Hardens

Gastropubs flourish in London, says Hardens

05-Nov-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Gastropubs are continuing to flourish in London as easier access to prime sites over the years has allowed more chefs and landlords to take the plunge and run their own high-quality food-serving pubs, according to the 25th edition of Harden’s London Restaurant...

City news

Urban Leisure Group plans major London expansion

02-Nov-2015 By James Wallin, MC Allegra FS

Adrian Hartley, the newly appointed managing director of London-based Urban Leisure Group, has told M&C Allegra Report that the group will open five sites in six months — with a sixth planned for the end of 2016.

Property

Strong investment seen in capital freeholds

02-Nov-2015 By Nick Lyell

Nick Lyell explains the slight reduction in average London pub yields in the freehold market and why there is still such huge demand from a multitude of investors.

Make Some Noise

Legal advice: Hope for pubs in noise debate

22-Oct-2015 By Poppleston Allen

Most people reading this article will at some time have bought a house and would not have done so without having a good look around the area.

Make Some Noise

Boris Johnson gets behind campaign to save music venues

22-Oct-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has thrown his weight behind the ‘agent of change’ principle in an attempt to put a stop to the “catastrophic” loss of London’s live-music venues, including scores of pubs.

Make Some Noice

Boris agent of change backing could be sweet music to venues

22-Oct-2015 By Ed Bedington

It’s a tough business, the pub trade. Margins are tight, competition intense, consumer demands mercurial and challenges rife.

Licensees hit out against Camden LNL

14-Oct-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Two Camden-based licensees have hit out against proposals to introduce a late night levy in the borough, arguing the levy will burden businesses in the area.

Stonegate places London pubs on market

09-Oct-2015 By MC Allegra FS

Stonegate Pub Company has confirmed it has placed a package of four central London freehold pub from its recently acquired TCG estate on the market - as part of a sale and leaseback process.

Wet-led and community pubs decline as whole pub sector contracts 2.6%

21-Sep-2015 By Oli Gross

The past year has seen a 4.4% decline in wet-led pubs and bars– including a 5.1% fall in community pubs - according to the new Market Growth Monitor from AlixPartners and CGA Peach.